WhatsApp’s Martinelli Video Will Hack Your Phone: Fact Check

Story:

If you know anyone using WhatsApp you might pass on this. An IT colleague has advised that a video comes out tomorrow from WhatsApp called martinelli do not open it, it hacks your phone and nothing will fix it. Spread the word.
If you receive a message to update the Whatsapp to Whatsapp Gold, do not click !!!!!
Now said on the news this virus is difficult and severe. Pass it on to all.

WhatsApp Gold Update Virus

Other Versions

1. Tomorrow comes a video for whatsapp is called martinelli do not open it hacks the phone in 10 seconds and you can not stop in any way pass the data to yours and friends

2. Warning from An Garda. An IT expert has advised that a video comes out tomorrow from WhatsApp called martinelli do not open it, it hacks your phone and nothing will fix it. Spread the word

Fact Check:

A viral message doing rounds on the free messaging App claims WhatsApp’s Martinelli video will Hack your Phone and nothing will fix it. It warns users not to open the video and spread the word. Additionally, the other part of the message mentions WhatsApp Gold update as severe virus. While the hacking warning a Martinelli video is a hoax, as explained below, the probability of WhatsApp Gold update containing a virus is true.

The messages warning about WhatsApp’s Martinelli Video appeared online in various versions since at least mid-2017. Some warned the video will hack your phone in 10 seconds and you cannot stop it in any way. However, in past and now, there are no credible reports of any such video called Martinelli from WhatsApp, which when opened, will hack your phone. The messages seem to have originated in Spain. In fact, back in 2017 Spain’s Policía Nacional explained the hoax message of WhatsApp’s Martinelli Video on their Twitter account:

Similar Hoax: Popcorn Carnival Video

Similar messages that appear on WhatsApp warn users not to open a Popcorn Carnival Video, again warning of phone hacking:

There is a video filming on Whatsapp called “Popcorn Carnival” Do not open it under any circumstances. Be warned. It will Hack your phone in seconds and you cannot stop it in anyway. Please forward to your contacts as soon as possible.

Dont click the link naming “popcorn carnival”.Its the hidden link for the blue whale game.they ll hack ur mobile and compel you to play blue whale game…share as much as possible.dont be lazy to share…may be ur friends r relative may suffer.

Likewise, there are no credible reports of any such video called Popcorn Carnival on WhatsApp, which when opened, will hack your phone. So, the message warnings about Popcorn Carnival video are also hoaxes.

WhatsApp Gold Update

Although the part of the message warning about hacking from Martinelli video is a hoax, that about WhatsApp Gold Update is a fact. It is explained in our article. Do not click on the message invite, which happens to be a scam and can also contain a virus.